TRANSLATION

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY

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FCI

This is a Russian breed of hunting dogs from the European forest areas of Russia. The first record about northern ear-pointed dogs was published by A. A. Shirinsky-Shikhmatov in the “Album of northern sledge dogs-laikas” in 1895. The dogs mentioned therein were named Cheremis: and Zyrianskiy Laikas. The breed was limited to the regions of Komi, Udmurtia, Arkhangelsk, Yaroslavl, Tver, Moscow and some other areas of Russia. In 1947 the off-spring of Arkhangelsk, Komi, Karelia, Votiatsk and other Laikas were united into one breed under the modern name of – Russian-European Laika. The breed standard for Russian-European Laika as a purebred dog was approved in 1952. The correct modern type of Russian-European Laika, as a recognized purebred dog, was not achieved by breeding different Laikas off-spring; it is the result of selective breeding over a long period of time

UKC

The Russian-European Laika originated in the northern zone of the European part of Russia, between Finland and the Uralian mountains. It is the smallest of the three Laika breeds, and is used as an all around hunting dog on both large and small game, though it was originally used mainly to hunt squirrel. It is closely related to the Karelian Bear Dog, but is smaller, lighter in bone and squarer in build.
The Russian-European Laika was recognized by the United Kennel Club January 1, 1996.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

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FCI

Medium sized dog; of medium to strong built. The overall impression is that of a square built dog, the length of the body (point of shoulders to point of buttocks) being equal to the height at the withers; however, the length of the body may be slightly superior to the height at the withers. The muscles are lean and well developed. Strong bone structure. Sexual dimorphism is clearly pronounced.

UKC

The Russian-European Laika is a medium size, slightly rectangular, strong, dry, agile dog. It has a moderate length, hard, double coat that is either black or dark grey with white, prick ears and small, slanting eyes.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS

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FCI

Males square to almost square and females slightly longer.
Index of format (height/length) males 100/100-103 females 100/100-105.
The height at the withers exceeds the height at the croup by 1-2 cm in males and it is equal to or exceeds the height at the croup by 1 cm in females.
The length of the muzzle is a little less than half the length of the head.
The distance from ground to elbow is slightly more than the distance from withers to elbow.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT

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FCI

Steady, evenly-tempered, with very well developed sense of scent and detection of game.

UKC

Friendly, affectionate and loyal, extremely tolerant of children. The breed is strongly territorial and may be aggressive towards dogs that invade its territory. The Russian-European Laika has a very strongly developed hunting instinct and a good sense of direction. They are very efficient at trailing and treeing game such as squirrels and marten and bay at the game once it is treed. They may also be used on large game such as bear and moose.

HEAD

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FCI

Lean; viewed from above, it is wedge-shaped, triangular and longer than broad.

UKC

The head is relatively small.

CRANIAL REGION

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Skull

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FCI

Relatively broad; and occiput is well pronounced.

UKC

The skull is shaped like an equilateral triangle.

Stop

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FCI

Slightly protruding superciliary arches give the impression of a pronounced stop, but it is never sharply pronounced.

FACIAL REGION

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Nose

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FCI

Of medium size; the nose is black in all coat colours.

UKC

Black.

Muzzle

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FCI

Lean and pointed. The length of the muzzle is a slightly less than the length of the skull. The planes of the muzzle (nasal bone) and the skull are parallel.

Lips

Jaws/Teeth

The Russian-European Laika has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.

Cheeks

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FCI

Well developed; cheek bones and muscles are clearly pronounced.

Eyes

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FCI

Not large, oval-shaped, with moderately oblique set eyelids; not deep set or protruding, with vivid and intelligent expression. Dark brown or brown eye colour in any colour of coat.

UKC

Small, oval in shape, slanting, and dark in color.

Ears

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FCI

Pricked, not large, mobile, set on high, V-shaped, pointed.

UKC

Prick, pointed at the tips, and very mobile.

NECK

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FCI

Muscular, lean and dry, long-oval in cross-section, its length is equal to the length of the head. The neck is set at approximately 45° - 50° to the horizontal.

UKC

Muscular and dry, about the same length as the head.

BODY

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UKC

Just slightly longer than tall in proportion, measured from the withers to the ground and the breastbone to the buttocks. The chest is deep and well-developed. The back is strong and muscular, and the loin is short and slightly arched. The croup is broad, short and slightly sloping. There is a marked tuck-up.

Withers

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FCI

Well developed, very well pronounced, especially in males.

Back

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FCI

Straight, strong, muscular, moderately wide.

Loin

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FCI

Short, wide, well-muscled, slightly arched.

Croup

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FCI

Broad, moderately long, slightly sloping.

Chest

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FCI

Broad, deep, oval-shaped cross-section; reaching the elbows.

Underline and belly

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FCI

Tucked up; the underline from the chest to the abdominal cavity is well pronounced.

TAIL

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FCI

Curled or sickle curled; touches the back, the upper thigh or buttocks. When stretched reach down to the hock joint or be 2-3 cm shorter.

UKC

The tail is either sickle or ringed, carried over the back or buttocks.

LIMBS

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FOREQUARTERS

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FCI

Legs lean, muscular; viewed from the front straight, moderately wide and parallel. The height of the forelegs from the elbow to the ground is slightly superior to half the height at the withers.

UKC

Well-angulated between the shoulder blade and upper arm.

Shoulder

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FCI

Shoulder blades are long and well laid back.

Upper Arm

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FCI

Long, well placed back, muscular. The angulations between the shoulder blade and the upper arm is well pronounced.

Elbow

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FCI

Fitting close to the body; elbows are well developed and placed backwards, parallel to the body axis.

FORELEGS

Forearm

Pastern

Short, slightly sloping when viewed from the side. Preferably no first digits (dewclaws).

FEET

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UKC

The feet are oval, with strong, tight toes.

Forefeet

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FCI

Oval, arched with tight toes.

Hind feet

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FCI

As Forefeet.

HINDQUARTERS

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FCI

Muscular, with well defined angulations of all articulations. When viewed from the rear the legs are straight and parallel.

UKC

The hindquarters are strong and well angulated.

Thigh

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FCI

Moderately long, placed obliquely.

Stifle

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FCI

Well angulated.

HIND LEGS

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UKC

The thighs are long and muscular. There is good angulation at the hock joint. Rear dewclaws should be removed.

Lower thigh

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FCI

Not shorter than the upper thighs; placed obliquely.

Rear pastern

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FCI

Placed almost vertically. Seen from the side, a perpendicular line, from the buttocks to ground, should fall close to the front of the rear pastern. The presence of dewclaws is not desirable.

GAIT / MOVEMENT

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FCI

Free movement.

UKC

The typical gait for the breed is a gallop, alternating with a short trot.

SKIN

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FCI

Skin is thick and elastic.

COAT

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HAIR

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FCI

Outer coat is harsh and straight. Undercoat is well developed, thick, soft, abundant and woolly. The coat on the head and ears is short and dense. The coat on the shoulders and the neck is longer than on the body and forms a collar; on the cheekbones it forms side-whiskers. The coat on the withers is also slightly longer, especially in males.
Limbs are covered with short, harsh, dense coat, which is a little longer on the back side of limbs. The coat on the rear legs forms trousers without feathering.
There is a protective growth of hair between the toes.
The tail is profusely covered with straight and harsh hair which is a little bit longer on the underside but without feathering.

UKC

Harsh and straight, with a well-developed undercoat. The coat on the face and ears is short and close fitting. It is longer on the neck, withers and
shoulders, forming a beard on the cheekbones and a stand-off collar on the neck. The fronts of the legs are covered with short, smooth hair. On the back of the legs the hair is longer, but there is no feathering.

COLOUR

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FCI

The most typical colours are black with white or white with black. Solid black as well as solid white also occur.

UKC

Black, grey or salt and pepper, with white markings. Either predominately colored with white patches or predominately white with colored patches. Heavy ticking on the legs or red color is undesirable.

SIZE

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Height at withers

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FCI

Males 52 - 58 cms. Females 48 - 54 cms.

UKC

Height for males is 20.5 to 23 inches. For females, it is 19.5 to 22 inches.

FAULTS

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FCI

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on its ability to perform its traditional work.